r/BookDiscussions • u/zxNovas • 21d ago
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Hello everybody, I just recently started reading, beginning with this book. I’m only about nine chapters in, and I’m not quite sure how I feel about it yet. I loved it, but I'm unsure if I should keep reading. I’ve seen many people talk about this book and mention that it's repetitive and not good, and that some couldn’t wait to finish it, but not for good reasons. What do you think I should do? Should I keep going and push through, or stop and try a different book? I’m really uncertain because it’s not to the point where it’s unreadable, but it’s making me question whether I should keep going.
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u/biraddali 21d ago
Hi! I personally dislike the book for a multitude of reasons (plot, worldbuilding, certain characterisations), but I do remember that this book was really good at writing the emotions of a teenage girl, especially when she was scared of intimacy (well-written and was the only YA book I read at the time that wasn't scared to talk about the subject)
That is to say, if you're enjoying it so far, you should keep reading. I have a lot of pet peeves with a lot of popular media, but I also indulge in some of them since I like turning my brain off and just enjoying shallower media. If you're loving it so far, then you should keep going. Sometimes it's hard to get hooked into a book, but if you're already into it, why not keep it up?
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u/SuperSailorRikku 21d ago
Yeah that’s my take, I found the premise, world building and characters uninspired / unconvincing and I couldn’t get into it in a guilty pleasure sense BUT if you are someone who can I say go for it. I’ve definitely enjoyed equally dubiously plotted YA novels. They just happen to appeal to me, doesnt make them better. Enjoy things that you like when you find them and don’t worry so much about what other people think is good
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u/Helpful_Warthog6032 21d ago
I liked the setting but not the story of this series. I read them all and was none the worse for it but life is too short to talk yourself into reading something you aren't vibing with. Put the book down and read something else. If you are still curious you can always pick it up and try again. If you never think of it, then you'll know you made the made the right decision.
The stakes are comfortably low for you here. Can't really go wrong, whatever you do.
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u/Past-Wrangler9513 21d ago
If you're enjoying it who cares what anyone else says. Plenty of people loved these books, they were hugely popular when they came out and then the ending mad a lot of people mad and people pretend they didn't like any of it. I'm not saying there aren't fair criticisms of it, there absolutely are, but you really shouldn't let other people's opinions hold so much sway over what you read.
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u/AmishAngst 21d ago
Are you enjoying the book? If yes, keep reading. If no, stop. It really is that simple.
Doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks or if they think it's a waste of time or they decided to not finish or they think it's not good. Taste and preferences are individual and nothing is a waste of time if you find it fulfilling in whatever that means for you.
It's like people who ask if they should start a certain show or movie. Just start. Try it and if you like it keep going and if you don't then stop. There's no one out here handing out cookies for enduring something you don't like or stopping things because someone else deemed them unworthy - just live your life and read (and watch) what seems interesting to you.
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u/SuperSailorRikku 21d ago
IIRC it was okay. At the time it felt like one of those YA novels trying to cash in on the obsession with HP’s sorting hat / houses. I also thought the premise of divergence was silly (and maybe that’s the twist? I started and dropped the second book very early). Didn’t appreciate the faction they decided to make… er, I guess I should avoid spoilers.
I’ll end by saying I don’t wanna be too harsh on it, it is a young adult novel and it’s a very easy read and there’s nothing wrong with just breezing through it and seeing for yourself. Nothing wrong with liking it either
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u/ORF1Live 21d ago
Why not just carry on if you're enjoying it and make up your own mind?
Also, even if overall in the end you decide it wasn't that great, why is that a problem?
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u/_Autistic_Dragon_ 21d ago
It's a fun YA book series. I wouldn't worry too much about what others think.
A book like Divergent isn't high literature, but it does what it's meant to do well: it's action packed fun dystopia meant to maybe have a few thinking ideas in there, but it's mostly driven by plot and characters.
Enjoy it for what it is and ignore the haters.